Torpedo shell



April 26, 1932. A. G. STOOPS 1,855,495

' TORPEDO SHELL Filed Jan. 20, 1930 W 2. ha .7.

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INVENTOK 7 A TTORNE y V I By /e/"f. 6:" 0700 05- Patented Apr. 26, 1932ALBERT Gr. S'IOOPS, OF TULSA, OKLAHOMA ronrnno SHELL Application filedJanuary 20, 1930. Serial No. 421,912.

.My invention relates to containers and more particularly to torpedoshells or containers for holding explosives such as nitrolycerin usedfor shooting sands or other formations in oil and gas wells.

In the process of shooting oil sands, or other formations, for creatingapocket or breaking and cracking up the wall structure of an M oil. orgas Well, it is very essential that every precaution be taken to preventpremature improved tops and bottoms to shells, of this explosion of theexplosive during its descent in the well, and it is the principal objectof my invention to minimize such disasters by providing non-metallicmeans for attaching type.

In some wells, drilling is continued below the depth of the oil sand andit is a further object of my invention to embody means for supporting acontainer at a predetermined height above the well hole bottom. in orderto deliver the full charge of explosivesinto the oil sand.

Another object of this invention is to provide tops for containers ofthis character, especiallythose of relatively small diameters, adaptedto be attached to bottoms of superimposed containers, thus providing astring of explosives for wells wherein the layer of oil sand is'of suchthickness that the use of a single container would be impractical.

In accomplishing these and other objects oftheinvention, I have providedimproved details ofstructure, the preferredforms of which areillustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a central Vertical section of a well hole and casingillustrating a pair of containers being lowered into position for dis.-charging. V V

Fig. 2 is a central vertical'section of containers in assembledrelation.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a container and connecting link indisassembled relation.

Fig. 1 is a cross section on the line 44, Fig. 2.

Referring more in detail'to the drawings:

1 designates a well hole drilled through cap rock 2 and oil sand 3, andterminating in more solid formation 4., below the oil sand,

the well being lined with casing 5 supported by a shoe 6 0n the cap rock2.

In order to deliver a charge of explosives, such as nitroglycerimintothe well for shooting the oil sand to create a pocket for the collectionof oil, I provide containers? of improved construction, each including atubular shell or body member 8 of non-metallic maizefiial such ascompressed paper pulp or the Mounted within the upper end of the shellis a closuremember 9, preferably of molded paper pulp, treated with animpregnating solution to give it strength and to make it resistant tooil, water and dilute acids. The closure member comprises a cylindricalportion 10 adapted to engage the inner wall of the tube, and has anoutwardly directed flange '11 on its outer end to seat on the end of theshell. The closure member is further provided with a funnel-shapedopening 12 and with a counterbored recess13, the lower end 1 1 beingformed with a conical flange 15 to facilitate insertion of the top intothe shell. Diametrically opposed notches 16 in the flange and continuingas grooves 17 in the cylindrical member 10, terminate in lateralopenings 18 adjacent the lower end of the closure member for receivingthe hooks 19 of a bail 20.

In order to securely mount a closure member in a shell, a coat of cementis applied to the outer wall of the closure member before it is insertedin the shell. Holes 21 are then drilled transversely and preferably instaggered relationthrough the wall of the shell and the counterboredportion 18 of the top for receiving pins 22, preferably of wood.

Mounted in the lower end of the shell is a bottom member 28, also moldedof treated paper pulp, and comprising a reduced cylindrical inner end24: having a closed wall 25 and a conical outer end 26-provided with aconcentric opening 27. The closure member is secured in the shell bycement and pins 22 in like manner as the top member pre-Viouslydescribed. The concentric opening 27, is adapted to receive theconical upper end 28 of a cylindrical'anchoring tip 29having a closedlower end wall 30, a non-metallic cross pin 31 being extended throughthe conical outer end and anchoring tip.

The conical outer end 26 and the end wall 30 are perforated as indicatedat 32, for permitting equalizing of internal and external pressures toprevent float action of the hollow closure member and anchoringtip. Theopening, 27 is further adapted to receive the upper end 33 of a conicalend tip 36% so that either the end tip or the anchoring tip, each formedof paper pulp or like: material, may

be mounted in the closure member as occasion demands.

WVith the use of theanchoring tip, .a cylindrical end 35 of any desiredlength comprising-a pipe or the like, of light material, may be attachedto the lower end of the shell for supporting the container at apredetermined elevation above the bottom ofthe well hole.

The depth-of the oil sand is frequently so great that it is necessary toemploy a series of superimposed,containers in order to shoot the oilsand throughoutits depth.

When containers of largediameters are used they are individually loweredinto the well hole andpermitted torest upon each other. However, withcontainers of smaller diameters, this is impractical for: obviousreasons, and for this purpose I have provided a hook 36 for attachingthe lower end of a container to the bail of the nextlower container. Thehook preferably comprises. a heavy wire extended through aligningopenings 37 in the bottom member 23, the arms 38 V of the hookb'eingbent'downwardly adjacent the conical end wall-of the closuremember and registering wall of the end tip 34, and terminating inoverlapping hook portions 39 for engaging the bail of a-lower container.

A cross bar 40 extended through openings 4:1 in the end tip is welded atits ends to the arms 38 of the hook, as indicated at 42.

Various means may be employed for-slowering the containers-to the bottomof the well hole, but I have illustrated for this purpose a cable 43attached to the bailof the upper container by an open hook 44.

Assuming a torpedo tobe assembled and constructed as described,theprocess for connecting and lowering-the containers-into the bore ofawell would be as follows:

After determining the depth at-which the shot is to be'disch argedabovethe bottom of the well, a pipe of corresponding length is attached by ananchoring tip to the lower closure member. If, however, it is .desiredto explode the charge at the bottom of the hole, an end'tip is mountedin the closure member instead. A sufficient number of containers, if ofsmall diameters, are then linked together to extend substantiallythroughout the depth of the oil sand and the string of containers isfilled with a charge ofexplocable, the contents being discharged as incommon practice.

Due to the method of attaching the upper and lower closure members tothe shell, and to the inset position of the bail, the danger of heatincident to friction, or of sparks cre ated by this type of container inpassing through metallic casing, is eliminated.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a container of the class described, a tubular shell having openupper and lower ends, a closure member extending into the upper end, aclosure member extending into the lower end, all of said members beingof non-metallic material, and non-metallic means extending transverselythroughv the shell-and said closure members for securing the members tothe shell.

2. In a container of the class described, atubular shell having openends, an upper link, a top closure member having a filler opening andlongitudinal grooves terminating in transverse apertures for receivingsaid link, a lower link, a bottom closure member having a transverseopening for receiving the lower link, and means comprising across barextending through the'bottom closure member and having ends secured tothe lower link for preventing pivotal movement of the lower link. 7

3. In a containerof the class described, a tubular shell having openends, an upper link, a top closure member having a filler opening andlongitudinal grooves for receiving said link, a lower link, a bottomclosure member having a transverse opening for receiving the lower link,means for preventlng pivotal movement'of the lower link, andnon-metallic means extending. through the shell and closure members forsecuring said members to the shell.

4. In a container of the class described, a cylindrical shell havingupper and lower open ends, a bail, a closure member extending into theupper end having longitudinal grooves for receiving said bail and a stopshoulder for engaging the end of the shell, a hook, ,ahollow lowerclosure member extending into the lower end, having a stop shoulder forengaging the opposite end of the shell, means'for attaching, the hook tothe closure member, and non-metallic means extending through the shelland closure members for securing said members to the shell.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ALBERT G. STOOPS.

sives and lowered into the well by hook and I

